More Malthus

Levitt on peak oil and its consequences. As we run out of oil, whenever that may be, prices will go up. As prices go up, consumers will both figure out how to be more efficient with oil and to make do with less of it (higher mpg cars and fewer miles driven, for instance). Companies will also do that, and also pour more resources into other energy sources. In short, we will adapt. The transition may or may not be painful, but it will happen naturally from people responding to incentives. If you think this will happen sooner rather than later, put your money where your mouth is by buying more energy-efficient goods, and perhaps investing in alternative energy research, I'm sure there are good ways to do so. Trying to get the government more heavily involved in the situation is likely to make it worse.